Orders being taken for British native species.

It is important to check the delivery period when ordering as it is no longer possible to send outside that time. Plants are only sent when dormant. Instructions on how to treat your purchases can be found at the top of each group under "About". Paper instructions are not sent out. If you are buying as a present please tell the recipient to look at the instructions on here. Prices are per plant. Please send any messages regarding orders separate to you order as there is a problem reading them on my system. Please check plants on arrival as no replacements will be sent at a later date if the plants fail. Please notify me of any transit damages within 14 days of receipt.

£25.00

Ophrys apifera

The famous Bee orchid is sought by many hardy orchid enthusiasts. It is found in a variety of alkaline situations throughout England and Wales. In the wild it is well known for colonising suitable disturbed ground, especially in quarry and colliery areas. It has a relatively short life span and often does not come up in successive years. This leads to colonies varying from thousands one year to hundreds the next.

It can be grown in a pot, garden or meadow provided the soil is sufficiently alkaline. It does not bulk up vegetatively and the chances of seed germinating in the soil are limited. To keep the plant growing for a number of years and flowering regularly it is advisable to dead head the flower spike so that the self pollinating plant does not use energy to produce seed but uses it to produce a larger tuber for the following year.

Like all of the tuberous orchids continuation of the species is a balance between massive seed production or slow vegetative tuber increase.

Only a few smaller tubers left.
Plants are normally sent out potted with full growing instructions to customers in the UK. They can normally be sent during the period AUGUST to NOVEMBER after which time growth is such that the rosette may get damaged.
STOCK AVAILABLE FROM AUGUST 2017